Start our SCQF 5 maths course online, anytime.
Study flexibly online with the University of Aberdeen and earn a National 5-equivalent maths qualification.
- Lift your learning, confidence, and qualifications in maths.
- Use this Access course to get into university or college, including teacher education.
Start anytime
You’ll have 12 months to complete the course at your own pace.
24/7 learning
Set your own hours and study when it suits you.
Get the grades you need for teacher training in Scotland
Take this SCQF 5 maths course to raise your maths grades for entry to our Professional Graduate Diploma in Education (PGDE).
If you need to raise your English grades for PGDE entry, take:
Trusted by 1,000s of online learners
Over 6,000 students have joined our Access English and maths courses since they launched in 2017.
What you’ll study
You’ll work through an engaging range of maths topics.
The topic areas cover key SCQF Level 5 (National 5-level) skills, including:
- arcs and sectors
- completing the square and graphs of quadratics
- gradients, straight line and simultaneous equations
- indices, brackets and factorisation
- linear equations
- percentages, fractions, surds
- Pythagoras and vectors
- quadratic equations and the discriminant
- trigonometry.
How you’ll study
Online learning
This is an online, self-guided course.
You’ll work your way through a series of course units. Each unit guides you through structured exercises that help you to develop and consolidate your learning.
Once you’ve enrolled, you’ll have 12 months to complete the course at your own pace.
Online learning platform
Your course is delivered online through MyAberdeen, our Virtual Learning Environment (VLE). It’s packed with learning resources, including:
- videos
- reading materials
- discussion boards with classmates.
It’s also available as a mobile app, so you have access to all your learning materials on your smartphone and mobile devices. Take a look around MyAberdeen.
You have two study options:
Learning and assessment
- Gives you access to everything you need from the start – the learning materials, discussion boards and online assessments.
- Choose this option if you want to earn credits and an Access qualification, as you need to complete the assessments to earn these. What are credits?
Learning only
- Gives you access to the learning materials and discussion boards only.
- There are no assessments, so you will not earn credits or a qualification.
- Choose this option to spread the cost of your studies. You can start with and pay for learning only, then purchase and complete the assessment stage separately when you’re ready.
Once you’ve enrolled, you have 12 months to complete the course at your own pace.
You’re completely free to set your own study hours. The learning resources are there for you 24/7, all year round, so you can drop in and study anytime.
- Learning and assessment total approximately 150 hours.
- That’s around 10 – 15 hours per week over 12 weeks.
- This is an indicative guide to the time required for a typical student at this level to achieve the learning outcomes.
- ‘Learning only’ totals approximately 120 hours of study time.
You’ll carry out all of your assessments online.
Learning and assessment
- Your course ends with two assessments. You complete and submit these online.
- You do not have to take these final assessments until you feel ready. You can go back and review previous learning until you feel confident enough to progress to the assessment stage.
- You need to pass both assessments. They combine to give you a final grade.
Learning only
If completing the learning only, you will not have any assessments to complete. You will not earn any credits if you choose this option. What are credits?
If you later decide that you’d like to sit the assessments, you can purchase the assessment part of this course separately anytime.
You can sit your assessments whenever you’re ready. But you will not get your results straight away.
This is because we mark assessments only at five fixed points each year, called exit points.
How exit points work
- You can submit your assessments online at anytime, and they’ll be graded at the next upcoming exit point.
- We position exit points throughout the year to line up with university and college admission dates.
- We have fixed exit points so that your assessments can be reviewed by both internal and external examiners.
How you’ll get your results
- You’ll receive a grade according to our Common Grading Scale.
- You’ll receive your grades online.
- You’ll receive your transcript (proof of your grades) via email after your grades are announced.
When you’ll get your results
Final grades are available one month after each exit point closes.
See our timeline below to see when exit points close and when results will be available.
Exit points for academic year 2023/2024:
Exit point 4 - May
- Exit point closes 10am, 10 May 2024
- Assessments submitted between the closure of exit point 3 and the closure of exit point 4 are graded
- Final grades for assessments submitted in this exit point are available 7 June 2024
Exit point 5 - July
- Exit point closes 10am, 5 July 2024
- Assessments submitted between the closure of exit point 4 and the closure of exit point 5 are graded
- Final grades for assessments submitted in this exit point are available 2 August 2024
Exit points for academic year 2024/2025:
Exit point 1 - September
- Exit point closes 10am, 6 September 2024
- Assessments submitted to us before this exit point closure are graded
- Final grades for assessments submitted in this exit point are available 4 October 2024
Exit point 2 - November
- Exit point closes 10am, 1 November 2024
- Assessments submitted between the closure of exit point 1 and the closure of exit point 2 are graded
- Final grades for assessments submitted in this exit point are available 29 November 2024
Exit point 3 - January
- Exit point closes 10am, 17 January 2025
- Assessments submitted between the closure of exit point 2 and the closure of exit point 3 are graded
- Final grades for assessments submitted in this exit point are available 14 February 2025
Exit point 4 - May
- Exit point closes 10am, 9 May 2025
- Assessments submitted between the closure of exit point 3 and the closure of exit point 4 are graded
- Final grades for assessments submitted in this exit point are available 6 June 2025
Exit point 5 - July
- Exit point closes 10am, 4 July 2025
- Assessments submitted between the closure of exit point 4 and the closure of exit point 5 are graded
- Final grades for assessments submitted in this exit point are available 1 August 2025
Getting your results in time for entry to university or college
You’ll need your Access transcript as evidence for admissions departments. Please ensure you have enough time to receive your results and transcript before your course start date.
Resitting assessments
If you fail an assessment, you are allowed one resubmission attempt for the next available exit point. There is a £30 fee to resit your assessments.
Where this will take you
Your Access qualification
Learning and assessment
On successful completion of the course and assessments, you’ll receive:
- 15 credits at SCQF Level 5 (National 5-equivalent level), and
- a transcript of your achievement from the University of Aberdeen.
Learning only
If you complete the learning only, you will not receive credits or a transcript.
However, if you later decide you’d like to sit the assessments, you can purchase them separately anytime.
What are Access qualifications?
This Access qualification is not a National 5 qualification. It is equivalent to a National 5 qualification.
Nationals are awarded by the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA). This Access qualification is awarded by the University of Aberdeen.
This Access qualification is designed:
- in accordance with the Scottish Credit Qualifications Framework (SCQF) at National 5 level
- by educationalists experienced in working at this academic level
- to develop your National 5-level skills and support your access into college and university.
Access university
Access Maths is designed to increase your maths grades, so you can meet university entry requirements.
Our Access qualifications, with successful completion of assessments, are accepted for entry at the University of Aberdeen and a range of other Scottish universities.
If you’re applying to study anywhere else, please contact the respective university to confirm the acceptability of this course and the grades required.
Access teaching
Many students take our Access courses so they can apply for entry to a Professional Graduate Diploma in Education (PGDE), to start teacher training.
Thinking of getting into teaching?
Meet Malcolm. An English graduate, Malcolm lacked the maths grades he needed to get into teacher training. Find out how our online Access maths course put him on the path to his dream job.
Read about Malcolm’s Access experience
Our teacher training programmes
Our Access qualifications are accepted for entry to both our PGDE initial teacher education (ITE) programmes:
Access PGDE courses across Scotland
Because they’re designed around the SCQF, our Access qualifications are accepted for entry to PGDE courses across Scotland. This Access qualification is currently accepted at:
-
Edinburgh Napier University
-
University of Glasgow
-
Queen Margaret University
-
University of the Highlands and Islands
-
University of Dundee
-
University of Strathclyde
-
University of Edinburgh
-
University of the West of Scotland
However, our Access qualifications do not guarantee entry.
If you’re applying to study anywhere outwith the University of Aberdeen, please contact the respective university to confirm the acceptability of this course and the grades required.
Entry requirements
You will need access to:
A computer (PC, laptop or Mac) operating on either:
- Windows 10 or later
- macOS 10.15 (Catalina) or later.
Most teaching materials are smartphone- and tablet-friendly. But we recommend a proper laptop or desktop for completing assignments comfortably.
Reliable internet access
We recommend:
- a wired connection
- a minimum download speed of 2 Mbps so you can take part fully in live sessions.
Speakers or headphones
- We recommend a headset with built-in microphone and earphones if you’re likely to study in an environment with background noise.
- A webcam is optional, but you may like to use one for some interactive sessions.
Software
We’ll give you access to Office365 applications. This means you can use online versions of Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint and install these programs on up to five personal devices.
If your course requires specialist software, we’ll provide you with access to this and a licence that lasts throughout your studies.
See our detailed IT requirements for more information.
When you study with us, you can expect a first-class support structure that means you are never alone in your studies.
But learning online does mean that you have to motivate yourself and manage your own time.
This course is very much self-guided.
- Have you ever taken a course that involved a high proportion of self-study?
- If yes, did you enjoy self-study as a way of learning?
Self-study isn’t for everyone. If you have any concerns or queries, get in touch with our friendly team. We’re here to help.
Spread the cost
Spread the cost of the course by starting with the ‘Learning only’ part. You can then purchase and complete the assessment separately when you’re ready.
Staff discount
University of Aberdeen staff are entitled to a 10% discount on this course. View full details and eligibility criteria.
No other discounts or fee waivers are available.
How to pay
- You need to pay your course fee before you start your course.
- You enrol and pay for your course online – simply apply below.
- We accept payment via Visa Debit, Visa Credit and Mastercard.
Fees for this course will rise a little at the start of each academic year, on 1 August. This increase is typically 5%.
Resitting assessments
There is a £30 fee to resit your assessments.
This course has no formal entry requirements. You decide if it’s suitable for you.
The course is designed to lift your learning to SCQF Level 5 (National 5). It’s ideally suited to those who have:
- a pass or better at SCQF Level 4 (National 4).
National 4 is equivalent to a general pass at Standard Grade. See the guide to SCQF levels.
Apply for this course
